Player Updates

Paxton allowed one earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out nine across six innings Saturday against the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision.

Paxton threw 91 pitches in his final start of the season, and he pitched at least six innings for only the second time in his last six starts. Despite performing unevenly since the All-Star break, Paxton pitched a career-high 160.1 innings while also surpassing 200 strikeouts for the first time.

Paxton will start Saturday against the Rangers, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The big left-hander will thus have a chance to make a second start after his bout with pneumonia, an outing that will qualify as a career-high 28th of the season. Paxton has worked 154.1 frames thus far, and his goal Saturday would be to get to at least 160 with an eye on hitting the 190-200 range in 2019. Paxton has generated a solid 11-6 record, 3.85 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while battling an assortment of injuries this season, and a win Saturday would equal the career-high 12 he managed in 2017.

Paxton allowed two earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out five across four innings Monday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision.

The Mariners made it clear that Paxton would be on a pitch count prior to the game and followed through by limiting him to 71 pitches. He hadn't pitched since Sept. 7 due to the flu and pneumonia, but should make one final start in the team's weekend series against the Rangers. Paxton has not lived up to his lofty standards since the All-Star break, posting a 4.37 ERA across seven starts.

The Mariners list Paxton (illness) as their probable starter for Monday's game against the Athletics, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Paxton has been out since Sept. 7 while dealing with symptoms of the flu and pneumonia, but the Seattle ace looks on track to finish the season healthy after completing a 40-pitch bullpen session Friday without incident. He declared himself ready to start again after completing the side session and the Mariners' training staff apparently concurred, as the lefty will kick off the team's seven-game homestand to end the campaign. Paxton will line up for a two-start week, with his second turn expected to come Sept. 29 or 30 against the Rangers.

Paxton (illness) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Friday and proclaimed himself "ready to go" for a possible start Monday against the Athletics, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander actually finished the bullpen session in the rain and said he felt fine in the aftermath Saturday. Manager Scott Servais mentioned Paxton relayed to him he'd gotten a bit fatigued toward the end of his workload but that he didn't feel it would hinder him from taking the hill against Oakland on Monday.